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  • Introduction

  • Design

  • Smart TV Features

  • Picture Quality

  • Conclusion

  • Science Introduction

  • Contrast

  • Viewing Angle

  • Color

  • Other Tests

  • Introduction
  • Design
  • Smart TV Features
  • Picture Quality
  • Conclusion
  • Science Introduction
  • Contrast
  • Viewing Angle
  • Color
  • Other Tests

Introduction

The fact that it retails for around $300 makes this TV a bit more appealing, too.

Design

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The generic “screen with an oval stand” design.

This TV is as basic as it gets...

Don't expect too much in the looks department from the Samsung LN32D403. This TV is as basic as it gets: wide bezels, a thick profile, and an oval-shaped stand. The only modern feature is the array of touch-sensitive controls, found near the lower-right corner. While there is no haptic feedback when touching these "buttons," they did work well.

{{photo_gallery "Design Landing Page Photo", "Front Tour Image", "Back Tour Image", "Sides Tour Image", "Connectivity Tour Image 1", "Connectivity Tour Image 2", "Connectivity Extra Photo", "Stand Photo", "Controls Photo", "Remote Control Photo"}}

Smart TV Features

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This isn't the prettiest interface, but it works well.

Samsung makes a good looking interface for its higher-end TVs, but unfortunately the D403 does not come with that. This simplified menu interface offers only the basics: picture, sound, setup, input, application, and support. There are enough options in the picture menu to keep most users satisfied, but don't expect to fine-tune this TV like you would the Samsung E8000.

{{photo_gallery "Software and Internet Landing Page Photo", "Internet Features 1 Photo", "Internet Features 2 Photo", "Internet Features 3 Photo", "Browser 1 Photo", "Browser 2 Photo", "Browser 3 Photo", "Apps 1 Photo", "Apps 2 Photo", "Apps 3 Photo", "Local Media Playback 1 Photo", "Local Media Playback 2 Photo", "Menu Main Photo", "Menu 2 Photo"}}

Picture Quality

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The Samsung LN32D403 has surprisingly quality motion performance.

The most impressive trait that this budget-friendly TV has is its strong motion performance. Detailed images moving quickly across the screen became slightly blurry, but nothing too drastic. Edges and lines did not get jagged, which is impressive, since this is your basic 60 Hz TV with no motion processing options.

To add to the screen woes on this Samsung, the viewing angle is narrow.

While the Samsung LN32D403 produced decent black levels and moderately bright whites, the screen uniformity was not impressive at all. A completely white picture on the screen produced a near-flawless image that was equally bright no matter where you looked. With a black image on the screen, though, we noticed terrible flashlighting, which is when certain parts of the screen suffer bright spots.

To add to the screen woes on this Samsung, the viewing angle is narrow. This could potentially be a problem for a 32-inch TV, because anyone who is not watching it straight on will see a drastically reduced-quality image.

Conclusion

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The budget-friendly price makes this TV attractive.

Make no mistake: the Samsung LN32D403 is not the best TV ever made. In fact, it's not even close. With a questionable screen uniformity and a poor viewing angle, there is plenty to not like about this TV.

When you factor in the price, however, it becomes an entirely different story. With an MSRP of $349, some of the drawbacks are easier to look past. Coupled with the impressive motion performance, there are worse things you could spend your money on.

Science Introduction

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The Samsung LN32D403 performed well when it came to contrast, but had a very poor viewing angle. This TV also suffered from a warm color temperature, which was noticeable on some of the darker greys.

Contrast

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The LN32D403 can get moderately dark and modestly bright.

The Samsung D403 achieved moderately dark and decently bright levels. Its contrast ratio of 2117:1 is very positive, especially compared to some other similarly priced televisions (although the LN32D403 did not have levels as impressive as the Dynex DX-32L100A13). More on how we test contrast.

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Viewing Angle

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A narrow viewing angle is never ideal.

LCD TVs generally have a more narrow viewing angle than plasma TVs, but that doesn't absolve the Samsung LN32D403 of its poor performance here. We measured a total viewing angle of 31°, which means that anyone watching this TV from an angle greater than 15.5° on each side will see a picture with a heavily degraded contrast ratio.

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Color

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The color temperature is warmer than it should be.

While this TV's transition from one color to the next was acceptable, its color temperature was not. From lower input levels to the middle levels, there is no noticeable color temperature error. Starting with the middle greys, though, the color temperature starts to shift downwards, meaning that a warmer hue will appear. More on how we test color performance.

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Other Tests

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Here we include more graphs from this TV's trip through our lab.

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Meet the tester

Josh Fields

Josh Fields

Staff Writer

@reviewedtech

An enthusiast of all things tech, Josh is one of Reviewed.com's resident television experts. When he's not looking at bright TV screens in a dark room, he's probably reviewing a laptop or finding a new snack at 7-11.

See all of Josh Fields's reviews

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